Forget fireworks and champagne-goggling subpar members of the opposite sex this New Year's. Instead, why not spend it bombing across Europe and North Africa in the Paris-Dakar Rally? The race, which begins New Year's Eve and continues through January 15th starts in Lisbon, Portugal this year for the first time. Also new on the docket are rules limiting GPS-related navigational tactics and a 150 kph speed limit for bikes and tricks, imposed after two motorcyclists died last year. 508 teams will make the intercontinental run this year, which we feel is criminally underreported here in the US. After all, wouldn't you rather watch off-season NASCAR coverage?